Air conditioning apparatus



v. 2 1949 A. H. @ERHART 2,488,589

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946' 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1o WITNESSES: INVENTOR ARTHUR H. EBERHART MM WW ATTORNEY Nov. 22, 1949 A. H. EBERHART AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1946 .AJU mhl 'hl l lmll l h I IIIIIII ll ill- INVENTOR F/ 5 ARTHUR H. EBER ART fi lv ATTORNEY I Nov.22; 1949 H, EBERH RT A 2,488,589

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Filed March 16, 1946 v s Sheets-Sheet 5 I4 [GI Q a Q a o 0 0 0 0 0 a b o o 9 Q a o o G a a o o 9 a a Q 0- o w o a a a Q a Q a 0 Q o 0 a a 0 0 Q o INVENTOR ARTHUR H. EBERHART [(ITORNEY Patented Nov. 22, 1949 AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Arthur H. Eberhart, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 16, 1946, Serial No. 654,967

This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus. more particularly to a self-contained unit air cooler, such as one that may be mounted in a window of a room to be cooled.

An object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the character set forth.

A more particular object is to provide a unit air cooler having an improved arrangement of parts therein.

A further object is to provide a unit air cooler having an improved arrangement for exhaust of air from the room.

A further object is to provide a unit air cooler having an improved arrangement for admitting outside air into the room.

It has been found by experiment that the greater volume of noise in room coolers of this type is produced by the fan wheels. Most of this noise is delivered to the room through the openings in the room cooler casing.

Accordingly, it is a further object to provide a unit air cooler having an improved arrangement of parts wherein noise incident to the operat on thereof is reduced.

These and other objects are effected by my invention which will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application. in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a self-contained unit air cooler, constructed according to this invention. mounted in a window; I

Fig. 2 is a partial top plan view with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a section taken approximately along the line III--III of Fig. 6;

Fig. 4 is a. fragmentary section illustrating the position of the control dampers when the unit is adjusted to exhaust air from the room;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section illustrating the A position of the control dampers when the unit is adjusted to deliver outside air into the room;

Fig. 6 is a section taken approximately along line VI-V'I of Fig 3; and

Fig. '7 is a section taken approximately along line VlIVII of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, this invention comprises a unit air cooler l adapted to be mounted, as shown in Fig. 1, in a window of a room to be cooled. It extends horizontally, the 50 front portion projecting into the room and the rear portion projecting exteriorly of the room.

The air cooler includes a refrigerating system of the compression type, the parts of which are 4 Claims. (Cl. 62-129) II and which form therewith a removable refrigerating unit. A casing structure It having an inlet opening I! in the front thereof and a discharge opening IS in .the top encloses the refrigerating unit. The casing structure l4 may also have a dummy inlet opening. I! in the front thereof which is closed by a plate l8. as shown in Fig. 7. The purpose of this opening is to make the front of the casing symmetrical and is strictly aesthetic. The casing structure It and therefrigerating unit are assembled to each other in any suitable manner.

The lower edge of the front wall of the easing structure It is provided with a flange 22 which extends rearwardly therefrom. The base member I i is provided with an upstanding flange 23 extending about the periphery thereof to retain moisture condensed from the air. The base H at the front terminates adjacent the flange 22 on the front wall of the casina structure, and a soft rubber gasket 24 is held between the flange 23 and an angle iron'25 which is attached to the flange 22.

The unit is divided into a front compartment 26 and a rear compartment 21 by an irregular partition 28, shown best in Fig. 3, which rests on the bottom of the base member I I. This partition comprises portions 29, 32 and 34 disposed substantially parallel to the front wall of the easing and offset from each other, and portions 3| and 33 which extend parallel to the sides of the casing and connect the first-mentioned portions. It further includes end flanges 30 and 35 extending parallel to .the sides and having gaskets to seal against the sides of the casing. The partition may comprise several members connected by flanges or it may be formed as one integral member.

An air filter 36 extends diagonally across the front compartment 26 from the front right-hand corner thereof (Fig. 3) to a position adjacent the portion 3! of the partition. This filter may be held in position by a member 31, and a bracket 38 attached to the partition.

A pan 39 having an upstanding wall or flange 40 to catch and hold moisture condensed out of the air is supported at the upper front portion of the unit by the irregular partition 28 and at the rear is supported in any suitable manner.

mounted on a combination base and drain pan b0 the front wall of the casing structure. A gasket 46 is supported on a flange 46 along the rear wall 46 of the pan 39. A depending bracket 41 is attached to the top wall of the casing structure I 4 and abuts against the gasket 45 to provide an air-tight seal between the top of the casing structure and the rear wall of thepan 39. Gaskets 66 are positioned between the side walls of the pan 39 and the side walls of the casing structure to provide an air-tight seal therebetween. The pan I8 and the complementing portions of the casing structure It provide a cooling compartment 9 in the upper front portion of the unit.

The refrigerating system includes an evaporator 56 which may comprise a conventional crossiln coil. The evaporator is disposed diagonally across the cooling compartment 49, as is shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. The evaporator may be mounted in any suitable manner, for example, it may be provided with end brackets 5| which rest on the bottom of the pan 39. The end brackets 5| may also have extensions 52 which are attached to the wall or flange 40. as indicated at 53 and 54.

The refrigerating system further includes a motor-compressor unit 55 which is preferably of the enclosed type comprising a compressor, a motor for driving the compressor, and a fluidtight casing enclosing both the compressor and the motor. It is disposed in the rear compartment 2! and is mounted on the base member ii in any suitable manner, as for example. by means of legs 57 and a support member 58. A condenser 66, preferably of the conventional crossfin typ enclosed in a substantially rectangular casing 5i, is disposed in the rear compartment along the left-hand portion of the rear thereof and is also mounted on the base member ii in any suitable manner.

The refrigerating system further includes an expansion device (not shown) and parts for connecting the motor-compressor unit, the condenser, the expansion device and the evaporator in a complete refrigerant circuit, as is well understood in the art.

Centrifugal fans 65 and 66 are provided for effecting flow of air through the evaporator and condenser, respectively. They are overhung on the shaft of an electric motor 68 disposed in the rear compartment, as shown in Fig. 3, with the shaft extending horizontally across the unit substantially parallel to the front of the casing with the right-hand end of the shaft projecting through the partition member 33 and into the front compartment 26. The fan 65 is provided with a casing 16, the outlet H of which is connected with an opening 12 in the bottom of the pan 39. The fan 66 is provided with a casing 13, the outlet 14 of which is connected by means of a connector 15 to the casing 6| of the condenser 60.

The rear of the casing structure is provided with a canopy or bonnet 16 to prevent rain from entering the rear of the same. This canopy has a partition 11 therein which is substantially in line with the right-hand side wall of the condenser casing 6|, as seen in Fig. 3.

To provide for the exhaust of room air through the air cooler, the partition member 29 is provided with an opening 80. See Figs. 3, 4 and 5. This opening is located opposite the opening I 5 in the front of the casing structure I4 and is controlled by a pivoted damper or closure 8|. which is biased to closed position by a coil spring 82.

To provide for bringing fresh or outside air into the room for ventilation, an opening 85 is provided in the partition member 26. The flow of air through the opening 66 is controlled by a damper 86, which is pivoted to the partition member 29 and which is biased to closed position by a coiled spring.

Means for controlling the dampers 8i and 86 include a rotatable rod 90 extending along the front of the refrigerating unit and, supported by brackets 9| which are attached to' the bottom of the pan 39 and serve as hearings in which the rod 96 may be rotated. This rod projects through the lefthand side of the cabinet structure, as seen in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and a knob 92 for rotating the same is mounted thereon. A pointer 93 is provided on the knob 92 to indicate the position to which it is set. The rod 90 has a pulley 95 thereon which is connected to the damper or closure member 8! by a beaded chain 66. A second pulley 98 is carried by the rod 96 and this pulley is connected to the damper 86 by a beaded chain 99.

As shown in Fig. 1, a portion of the casing structure M adjacent the knob 92 has indicia thereon. The control means just described is correlated so that when the pointer 93 is opposite the letter N on the cabinet, both of the dampers or closare members BI and 86 are closed, as shown in Fig. 3. When the knob is rotated until the pointer 93 is opposite the letter V, the chain 99 is wound around the pulley 9i and holds the fresh or outside air damper 66 open and the chain 96 is slack so that the exhaust damper or closure member 8i is held closed by the spring 82, as shown in Fig. 5. When the knob is rotated in the opposite direction until the pointer 93 is opposite the letter E, the chain 96 is wound around the pulley t5 and holds the exhaust damper or closure member 8| open and the chain 99 is slack so that the fresh air damper or closure member 86 is held closed by the spring 81, as shown in Fig. 4. The compressor motor and the fanmotor may be controlled by any suitable switches, as is common and well known in the art.

Operation The refrigerating system operates in the usual manner of such apparatus. Refrigerant vapor is compressed by the motor-compressor unit 55 and circulates through the refrigerant circuit. It is condensed in the condenser, its pressure is reduced by the expansion device (not shown),

and it is vaporized in the evaporator 56, thereby extracting heat from the air circulating over the outer surfaces of the evaporator by the fan 65.

When it is desired to cool the air in the room without bringing in any fresh air or exhausting air from the room, the pointer 93 of the knob is set opposite the letter N on the cabinet structure. The motor 68 is energized to drive the fans 65 and 66. The fan 66 causes outside air to enter the rear of the casing structure M at the right thereof and pass over the compressor i5 into the fan housing 13, from which it is forced by' the fan through the condenser 60 and from the rear of the the cooling compartment 4'! through the evaporator 50 and out through the exhaust opening IS in the top of the casing structure, into the room. The general path of the air during this cycle of operation is indicated by solid-line arrows in Figs. 2 and 3.

To provide for bringing outside'or fresh air into the room, the control knob 92 is rotated until the pointer 93 is opposite the letter "V" on the cabinet structure. In this position of the knob, the exhaust opening 80 is closed by the damper 8| and the outside or fresh air opening 65 is open, as shown in Fig. 5. Fresh air is then brought into the room as follows: The air enters the rear of the cabinet structure at the right side thereof, as seen in Fig. 3, and is drawn by the fan 65 across the compressor 65 and through the opening 85 and into the fan casing 10 from which the fan 65 forces the same up into the cooling compartment 41 and through the evaporator 56 and out through the exhaust opening I6, in the top of the casing structure, into the room. The general path of the air'during this cycle of operation is indicated by dotted-line arrows in Figs. 2, 3 and 5.

During this cycle'of operation, the damper 86 blocks oif most of the air passage from the inlet opening [5, a small portion of the passage above the top of the damper 86 being left unobstructed. Consequently, a very small amount of room air is also drawn through this unobstructed portion of the passage.

To provide for exhaust of air from the room, the knob 92 is rotated in the opposite direction until the pointer 93 is opposite the letter E on The air enters through the inlet IS in the front of the cabinet structure and a part of it flows through the opening 80 and is drawn by the fan 66 into the housing I3, where it joins the condenser air stream, and is forced by the fan 66 rearwardly through the condenser 60 and. from .the casing structure. The rest of the air is circulated, by the fan 65, across the front of the casing structure, through the filter 36, into the fan housing 10, where it is forced by the fan 65 up into the cooling compartment 41, through the evaporator 5 and out through the outlet opening l6, and into the room. The path of the air during this cycle of operation is indicated generally by dot and dash arrows in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.

It is understood that the condenser air fan 66 draws air into the right, rear side of the casing structure and forces it through the condenser 60 and out of the casing in substantially the same manner during each cycle of operation.

An advantage of the room cooler provided by this invention is that the fan 65 is placed a maximum distance from the inlet opening IS in the front of the casing structure and exhaust or out-. let opening l6 in the top of the casing structure. As a result of this arrangement, the source of the noise created by the fan 65 beating on the air is a maximum distance from the inlet opening 15 and also a maximum distance from the outlet opening l6, and before this noise can reach the openings in the casing structure to exit to the room so as to become audible to persons, most of it is absorbed by the casing structure. This results in-a much quieter operating unit than has been provided by the arrangements used heretofore.

WhileI have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art a that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a self contained unit air cooler adapted to be'mounted in a window, the combination of a casing structure having an inlet opening in the front thereof and disposed to one side of the casing structure, a partition dividing said casing structure into a front and a rear compartment. a fan drivemotor disposed in said rear compartment and having its shaft projecting through said partition into said front compartment, a first fan disposed in said front compartment at the opposite side from said inlet opening and having its rotor overhung on said projected portion of said shaft, means providing a cooling compartment in the upper portion of said casing structure, an evaporator disposed in said cooling compartment, said fan having its outlet connected to said cooling compartment for eifecting flow of air into said casing through said inlet opening and across said casing along the front thereof to the inlet to said fan which forces the air into said cooling compartment and through said evaporator and out of said casing structure through an outlet opening in the top of said casing structure, said outlet opening being located near the opposite side of said'casing structure from said fan,

the rear compartment enclosing a compressor and a condenser connected in a refrigerant circuit with said evaporator, and a second fan driven by said drive motor and effecting flow of air over the condenser.

2. In a self-contained unit air cooler adapted to be mounted in a window, the combination of a' casing structure having an inlet opening in the front thereof and disposed to one side of the easing structure, a partition dividing said casing structure into a front and a rear compartment, a fan drive motor disposed. in said rear compartment and having itsshaft projecting through said partition into said front compartment, a first fan disposed in said front compartment at the oppo-'- site side from said inlet opening and having its rotor overhung on said projected portion of said shaft, means providing a cooling compartment in the upper portion of said casing structure, an evaporator disposed in said cooling compartment, said first fan having its outlet connected to said cooling compartment, the rear compartment enclosing a compressor and a condenser connected with said evaporator in a refrigerant circuit and also enclosing a second fan driven by said drive motor, control means for controlling fiow of air in such manner that in one position of said control means said first faneffects flow of air into said casing inlet opening and across said casing along the front thereof to the inlet to said fan which forces the air .into said cooling compartment and through said evaporator and out of said casing structure through an outlet in the top of the same, in a second position of said control means said second fan draws air through said inlet opening and forces the same out of the rear of said cabinet structure, and in a third position front thereof and disposed to one side of the easing structure, a ,partition dividing said casing structure into a front 'and rear compartment, a fandrive motor disposed in said rear comparti ment and having its shaft projecting through said partition to said front compartment, a first centrifugal fan disposed in said front compartment at the opposite side from said inlet opening Ind having its rotor overhung on said projected portion of said shaft, means providing a cooling compartment in the upper portion of said casing structure, an evaporator disposed in said cooling compartment, said fan having its outlet connected to said cooling compartment, the rear compartment enclosing a compressor and a condenser connected with said evaporator in a refrigerant circuit and also enclosing a second fan driven by said drive motor for eflecting flow of air over the condenser, said partition having first and second openings therein, said openings being closed by first and second dampers, a common control member for controlling said dampers, said dampers and said control being so coordinated that in one position of said control, said first fan effects flow of air into said casing structure through said inlet opening and across said casing along the front thereof to the inlet of said first fan which forces the air into said cooling compartment and through said evaporator and out of said casing structure through an outlet in the top of the same, in a second position of said control, said first fan draws air into the rear of said cabinet structure and forces the same into said cooling compartment and through "said evaporator and out of said cabinet through said outlet opening, and in a third position of said control, said second fan draws air into said cabinet structure through said inlet opening and forces it out of the rear of said cabinet structure.

4. In a self-contained room cooler, the combination of a casing structure having an inlet opening in the front thereof and disposed to one side of the casing structure, a partition dividing said casing structure into a front and a rear compartment, a first fan disposed in said front com- 8 partment at the opposite side from said inlet o ening, a second fan disposed in said rear compartment, means providing a cooling compartment in said casing structure. an evaporator disposed in said cooling compartment, said first fan having its outlet connected to said cooling compartment, means providing communication between said front and rear compartments, and manually-operable control means for controlling said communication-providing means, said control means being adapted in one position to permit said first fan to draw air into said casing through said inlet opening and across said casing along the front thereof to the inlet of said fan which forces the air into said cooling compartment and through said evaporator and out of said casing structure through an outlet opening in the top of the same, in a second position to permit said first fan to draw air into said casing structure through the rear thereof and force said air into said cooling compartment and through said evaporator and out of said casing structure through said outlet opening in the top thereof, and in a third position to permit said second fan to draw air into said casing structure through said inlet opening and discharge the same from said casing at the rear thereof.

' ARTHUR H. EBERHAR'I'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,309,224 Terry et 'al Jan. 26, 1943 2,332,730 Kucher Oct. 26, 1943 2,386,303 ,Eberhart Oct. 9, 1945 2,391,151 Gibson Dec. 18, 1945 2,408,972 Eberhart Oct. 8, 1946 2,408,973 Cody Oct. 8, 1946 

